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Our mission is to help everyone affected by cancer.
What is Cancer Central?
Cancer Central is a brand-new digital platform created to provide those affected by cancer with the help and support they need.
Our platform is built with an intelligent AI chat (nicknamed ‘Ave’) powered by IBM Watson. We use conversational search to connect you with products, services and support, when and where you need them.
Examples include benefits advice, insurance products, counselling, complementary therapy, respite care, hats, wigs, lingerie, skincare, financial help, nutrition advice, local societies or communities, meals on wheels, books, blogs, forums, local hospital taxi services and so on – all based on your geographical location and cancer type to provide you with individualised information.
Created by you
We are using approaches that are only now coming of age, partnering with industry giants, leading data platforms as well as the sharpest minds in high tech start-ups, through cominovation our ‘Human Open Source Model’.
Our platform is in its early stages and we are the first to admit that there is plenty of room for opportunity and growth.
We would love to develop our organisation and platform with you. Please join in by sharing your ideas and general comments on our feedback page and interact with us on social media. Thank you for cominovating with us!
Our commitment
We are a Community Interest Company (CIC). This means we are committed to reinvesting at least 65% of our profits on the continuous development and improvement of Cancer Central, so that we can strive to deliver more against our social promise. Our dream is to one day become leaders in the Social Impact Business space.
More About Us
About Avril
Avril Chester, Founder & CEO of Cancer Central is Entrepreneur of the Year at the Women in IT Awards 2019, Author of be with me, it’s c, Vice Chair & Trustee at seAp advocacy, and Director at Kaniave Limited.
Avril is a senior leader in technology who has worked across multiple sectors, delivering change and digital transformation. Avril realised the need for Cancer Central when she was being treated for breast cancer in 2015/16 and began her mission to build Cancer Central in January 2018. Avril is documenting her journey from technical executive to hopeful entrepreneur, in a business book that is interspersed with a sense of humour. Avril’s book will be published in 2019.
A few other links;
Tech Talks Podcast, interview with David Savage
People Change Things Podcast, interview with Brad Jennings
Horizon CIO Podcast, interview with Mark Chillingworth
7th in ERP IN NEWS 2017 Technology Trending Writing Competition with, ‘how we grow from breaks in our CV’
Relay for Life poem, Eastbourne (Words)
Article in the Daily Mirror
About Avril
Avril Chester, Founder & CEO of Cancer Central is Entrepreneur of the Year at the Women in IT Awards 2019, Author of be with me, it’s c, Vice Chair & Trustee at seAp advocacy, and Director at Kaniave Limited.
Avril is a senior leader in technology who has worked across multiple sectors, delivering change and digital transformation. Avril realised the need for Cancer Central when she was being treated for breast cancer in 2015/16 and began her mission to build Cancer Central in January 2018. Avril is documenting her journey from technical executive to hopeful entrepreneur, in a business book that is interspersed with a sense of humour. Avril’s book will be published in 2019.
A few other links;
Tech Talks Podcast, interview with David Savage
People Change Things Podcast, interview with Brad Jennings
Horizon CIO Podcast, interview with Mark Chillingworth
7th in ERP IN NEWS 2017 Technology Trending Writing Competition with, ‘how we grow from breaks in our CV’
Relay for Life poem, Eastbourne (Words)
Article in the Daily Mirror
Non-Executive Board
The Board is collectively responsible for promoting the success of Cancer Central by directing the company’s affairs, constructively challenging and scrutinising the performance of management in meeting agreed goals and objectives, in accordance to Cancer Central’s Social Enterprise purpose. The Board has a legal governing function within Cancer Central.
The Board is collectively responsible for promoting the success of Cancer Central by directing the company’s affairs, constructively challenging and scrutinising the performance of management in meeting agreed goals and objectives, in accordance to Cancer Central’s Social Enterprise purpose. The Board has a legal governing function within Cancer Central.
Brian Proffitt
Brian is technology partner in a PE firm, NED of several high tech businesses and Technology Director at a Business School. He divides his time between advising businesses and performing formative and turnaround CTO roles, recently creating the connected car telematics platform with Samsung. His experience includes creating and delivering digital strategies in the Cabinet Office, FTSE100 & Fortune 500 companies.
Melanie Rose
As founder of CoDo London, Melanie specialises in agile approaches to software delivery, business change leadership and digital. Melanie is a contributing author to Business Analysis and Leadership: Influencing Change, edited by Penny Pullan and James Archer. Melanie enjoys mentoring and providing career guidance in schools.
Nigel Hall Nigel is an Internationally experienced board level, NED, Interim CEO, COO, MD and CTO/CIO. He has led operational units for Companies such as PRS for Music, KPMG McLaren, Cable & Wireless Worldwide, Telefonica O2 & France Telecom. Nigel was part of the original start-up team for Orange UK and later led the International launch teams responsible for building the ‘disruptive’ Customer centric brand overseas. More recently, Nigel has been involved in growth focused businesses at Angel, Venture Capital and Private Equity level in a variety of roles both Executive & Non-Executive level covering change & international business growth.
Advisory Panel
Cancer Central’s Advisory Panel is a group of professionals who provide specialist expertise, diverse knowledge and perspective, connections to local or national colleagues or peers, philanthropic support or other forms of assistance to meet the objectives of Cancer Central.
Cancer Central’s Advisory Panel is a group of professionals who provide specialist expertise, diverse knowledge and perspective, connections to local or national colleagues or peers, philanthropic support or other forms of assistance to meet the objectives of Cancer Central.
#HelpisHere from our Advisors – learn more about Simon, Sandhya, Tim, Jon, Kali
and Andrew’s involvement.
Simon Nelson Previously an officer in the Royal Navy and now 25 years serving in the Police Force becoming Criminal Justice lead in 2017 and more recently, promotion to Superintendent. Simon was diagnosed with stomach cancer and underwent twelve months of treatment including having his stomach removed. Although Simon manages challenges he remains active as operational and tactical commander.
Sandhya Sharma HR Consultant, Lecturer at University of Greenwich and Chair of Trustees at BowHaven in East London. 15+ years within public and private sector organisations including experience of providing training interventions in Japan, South Africa, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. Provides effective and efficient HR solutions to meet business needs with a special interest in mentoring and coaching staff. Sandhya is a survivor of breast cancer.
Tim Harrison Tim is a communications consultant, interim director and board advisor with over 20 years’ experience working with leading corporations and the freshest start-ups. He has held senior marketing, communications and strategic development roles with leading companies on the FTSE 100 and NASDAQ and until 2014, served as Sony Mobile's Vice President, Global Communications & PR. Tim is an Accredited Practitioner of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing.
Jon Downing Experienced innovation, service and technology leader, with over 25 years successfully delivering significant business & technology service improvement at multiple global companies - including Visa, American Express, J P Morgan, & HP Enterprise Services. Jon was a key member of Visa Europe’s Innovation Hub, Visa Collab, which was responsible for identifying and testing the most exciting and revolutionary ideas in payments and developing them into a commercial reality.
Kali Bagary Kali currently holds multiple Non-Executive and Advisory positions including the role of Chair. He is a senior executive with over 30 years’ experience of IT and software in insurance and financial services within the UK, Europe, Nordics, and South Africa. Kali’s key strengths include developing and marketing propositions with a focus on business development. Kali was one of the founders and co-chair of the “Finance IT Network” (FITN), a network for CIO’s looking at innovation in technology within the financial services.
Andrew Smith As UK Lead for Salesforce.com at Capgemini UK, Andrew has been the driving force behind their UK capability, overseeing their expansion and increasing recognition as a leading player in the cloud technology market. Andrew has a passion for creating digital innovation with the customer at the heart.
We are excited to share that we have been shortlisted in the Digital Leaders, HealthTech Innovation of the Year award and the public vote is now open.
Every vote will help drive awareness of Cancer Central. In turn, this helps our goal to support more people affected by cancer. Thank you for your vote.